Olms and Mudpuppies: Proteidae - Diet

fish eat shell crayfish

Mudpuppies eat fish, fish eggs, crayfish, worms, small mollusks, and water insects, in short, almost anything that moves and will fit into their mouths. They are especially fond of fish called sculpins and sometimes can be found gorged with these fish. Little is known about what olms eat in the wild, except that they seem to feed on tiny crustaceans, insect larvae, and other small invertebrates. Olms use chemical sensors to find prey in total darkness. Mollusks (MAH-lusks) are animals with a soft, unsegmented body that may or may not have a shell, such as slugs and snails. Crustaceans (krus-TAY-shuns), such as crayfish, are water-dwelling animals that have jointed legs and a hard shell but no backbone.

The Mudpuppy Goes to College

Mudpuppies are the most commonly used amphibians in college comparative anatomy and physiology classes.

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